Electric igniter for gas-stoves.



NO 868,238. Q PATENTED 00$. 15, 1907., A. M. TURKINGTON. ELECTRIC IGNITER FOR GAS STOVES.

APPLICATION FILED BEPT.25,1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

- ATTO'H/VEY No. 868,233. PATENTED 00115, 1907.

A. M. TUEKINGTON. ELBOTRIO IGNITER FOR GAS STOVES;

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W/l/VESSES.

ATTORNEY ALFREI) M. TURKING'ION, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC IGNITER FOR GAS-STOVES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1907.

Application filed September 25, 1906. Serial No. 336,195.

To all where it may concern:

.Be it known that I, ALI-nan M. Tnnxmo'rou, a citizen of the United States, residing in Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have inniters for Gas-Stoves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention rel ates to means or devices for lighting the burner of a gas stove, or range by electricity. It has for its object to provide a sparker, or electricigniter to be operated, or caused to light the gas, by or from the movements of the inlet valve which controls the flow of gas to the burner, in such manner that the burner will be lighted automatically whenever the gas is turned on at the burner.

To such end and object. chiefly, my invention comprises a novel igniterl'or the burner of a gas stove consisting essentially of a pair of electrodes or contacts normally in' open circuit with a battery, or other source of electricity, one of the electrodes being stationary as to position with respect to the burner and situated in required proximity to the gas apertures therein, and the other of said electrodes being situated normally out of electrical contact with said stationary electrode, but

capable of being brought-into ni'etallic contact with which I proceed to produce, coiistmct apply and ca'rry out the same are set forth at length in the following description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents in side-elevation one form or kind of gas-stove having combined therewith an electric igniter embodying my invention.

Parts of the stove are broken away to show the igniter more clearly. Fig. 2 is a plan, or top-view of the parts represented in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front-view, taken from the left side of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a sideview on an enlarged scale, of the movable electrode and the mechanism connecting it-with the spindle of the in- .let-valve to operate it from the rotary movement of the spindle. Fig. 5 is a viewer the plan represented in Fig. 4 looking from the left side of the figure. Fig. 6 is a top-view of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a side-view of the stationary electrode, and Fig. 8 a top-view of the same.

The stove represented in the drawing is one oi wellknown construction provided with what is known as a a needle-valve e. The same illustrates what I consider" to be the best form and application of my invention to that form of burner orvalve; but is not intendedvto limit or .restrict the application or scope of the invention tothe particular style of burner, nor to the type of vented new and useful Improvements in Electric lgi valve here shown. In this device," two electrodes l2, forming the terminals of the two poles of a battery, are so placed or arranged with relation to the apertures of the burner a that on bringing the two parts together the battery circuit willbe closed and a spark generated within the field or range of the escaping gas at one or more of the burner-apertures, at the instant of the electrodes making and breaking contact. One of these electrodes is best fixed in position directly on the burner-body, or in such proximity to one or moreof the outlet-apertures that the point of the electrode will lie close to the same. "The other electrode 2 being a movable contact is-niounted or placed on. some part of the stove-frame or body adjacent to the burner, and in such relation to the fixed electrode that the points of the two electrodes will be brought together with a wiping or sliding contact by a short movement of the movable As it is quite important that the burner should be lighted as soon as the flow of gas takes place at the burner-apertures, in order to insure its ignition before the volume of escaping gas becomes too great-for that controls the admission of the gas to the burner that the two electrodes will be brought together and a spark will be generated on the instant that the gas is admitted to the burner.

In the present construction the movable electrode 2 is fixed on thefree end of an arm 4, that is pivotally attachedby a bolt 5 to a stationary part of the stove body,- such for example, as the flange that joins the top b to the casting c that forms the .side of the body. The end of the arm situated on the opposite side of the pivot 5 is connected with the rotatable spindle 8 of the valve c by' an arm 5) secured to tho spindle'so asto extend perpendicularly upward from it and at right angles to the arm 4 that carries the electrode 2.

The arm 9 is fixed to thespindle by a ring or collar 10 lastenedbehind the hand-wheel f of the valve and that portion which stands above the spindle is formed or provided with a jointed upper member 9 which is attached tothe lower member 9 by a hinge-joint of such character that-the two members will, be rigid and operate as a single member under the rotation of the spindle I in the properdirection to open the valve; or on the other hand, the uppermember 9 will break or yield at the joint '12 when the arm'9 moves in the opposite direction. In the first-mentioned movement of the arm 9 in which it is pressed against the side of the electrode cairying v electrode, with the effect to generate a spark of sufiicient volume or quality to ignite the gas. 1

safety, I connect the movable electrode with the valve arm from that direction, it will operate to throw the arm 4 with a quick jmovement across the stationary electrode; but on turning the valve-spindle in theopposite direction to shut off the gas at the burner, the arm 9 will turn on the joint. 12 and pass the electrode carrying arm, without moving it, and the arm 4 will be'lei't standing on the proper side of the arm 9 and in position ready to strike and move the electrode-carryingarm as soon as the valve is opened again to put the burner in service. A coiled spring l-l attached to the arm 4 at a point beyond the pivot and to a fixed point .-in the stove-body, returns the arm 4 to its position clear of the burner on .the instant that the end of the jointed ill'll].

Underthe tension of the spring 14 the arm 4 is returned to positionwith a quick throw, thereby bringing the electrode 2 a second time in contact with the electrode l. and producing aspark in the return throw as well as in the initial throw of the arm 4 in every opening movement of the inlet-valve. -A light spring 15 on the arm!) serves to maintain the jointed member in working relation and to return it to position after every movemerit in which it is caused to break the joint. This manner of placing and actuating. the movable electrode has the advantage of keeping-the electrode out. of the "region of greatest-heat in immediate proximity to the burner when not inaction, thereby. rendering it more durable than it"otherwise would be. Platinum, or

other metal not affected by the heat or flame is used for the contact points, and the post which carries the Sta member {i -passes by the end of the elee.[rode-carrying g is provided on the body for attaching a conductor is from the battery. The other electrode being insulated from the parts of the stove is connected to the remaining pole by a conductor h. 3

From the foregoing description of what I consider the best manner of constructing and applying my invention to one of the top-burners in a gas-stoveor range, it will be possible for a. person familiar with the construction of gas-stoves and ranges to apply'the invention to the burners in other parts ol' a range, as for example. the burners in the oven, without further explanation.

Having thus described my invention, whatlclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:'-

1. In an electric igniter fora gas stove. the combination with the burner and inlet valve. of a stationary electrode, a movable electrode, anarm tixed to said inlet valve .and movable therewith and a pivoted arm carried by the said tixet'l arm. arranged to engage with and operate the movable eleetrode when the inlet: valve is turned in one (liree; tion. but to swing on its pivot when moved in theiopnosite -direetion. and means'for holding; the pivoted ai'mi in normal posit. m relative to the fixed arm. substantially as set. forth. I i

2. In an electric igniter for a iras burner. the combination with a burner and an ifilet valve, of a stationary electrode, a movable electrode. an arm movable with the inlet valve. an arm pivoted to the movable arm. a stop to limit the movement of the pivoted arm'in one direction only. whereby it will engage with and operate the movable electrode when the inlet valve is turned in one direction, but 

